The Substitute Bride

"Are you out of your mind?" Nancy cried out. She looked at him in shock and added, "I can't do that!"

Nancy shoved the medicine back at him and withdrew her hands quickly. "You can't make me do that, " she said shakily. "Nothing you say will make me do it."

The baby was the only thing that kept Autumn sane. If Nancy added the drug to her food, she would again have violent mood swings and be totally out of control.

"This is not up for dicussion, " the man said, rising from his chair. He stuffed the drug into Nancy's pocket, brought his face close to hers and whispered in her ear, "Don't forget your son is still in my hands. If you want to spare him from any more torture… you'd better do as I say. Otherwise, " he threatened.

But Nancy was agitated. "I really can't do it, " she pleaded. Her face etched with worry, she tried to explain, "Mr. Lu already suspects that I poisoned Autumn before. So he has forbidden her to eat the food I prepare. Instead, he asks people from the Zhao family to send her meals. So I have no chance to do as you ask."

"That's not my problem. It's yours, " he retorted. With a devious smile, he said, "You have what you need. How you accomplish what I want done is your business. But let me remind you that I am not a patient man. So, don't make me wait too long, " he warned.

His threat, the tone of his voice, and his look all frightened Nancy. He patted her on the shoulder before telling her, "You can go now. I'll take care of your son for you."

He gave instructions to drive Nancy back to Dream Garden. As soon as he left, Nancy groped for the packet of medicine in her pocket, her hand shaking.

What was she going to do? Nancy was now worried for Brent and Autumn. But did she have a choice if it was the only way to save her son?

It was already three o'clock in the morning when she got back home. Charles was still up, waiting silently for Nancy's arrival. He watched her in the dark to make sure his presence went unnoticed.

As soon as he saw Nancy enter the house and head to her room, he went off to bed.

The next morning, Nancy prepared a large breakfast for the couple. She greeted Charles, trying her best to be cheerful. "Good morning, Mr. Lu." She pointed at the food laid out on the table. "Time for breakfast!"

Autumn was already up, getting ready for her hospital appointment. She saw breakfast was everything she liked and wanted to have some before leaving. But Cha

he children as she led them away. The man turned around and asked Autumn again, "Are you sure you're okay?"

She nodded and gave a weak smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." Autumn was only too grateful to have escaped danger. And she thanked the stranger once more.

"You're welcome, " he replied. The man looked her over and pointed out, "You looked dispirited. You need to be more cautious because of that pregnancy."

"Yes, I need to be more careful, " she said, adding, "Are you a doctor in this hospital?" Autumn tried to recall if she had ever seen him around the hospital premises because most of the doctors there were familiar to her.

He shook his head and answered, "No, I'm not." The man finally straightened up and excused himself. "Please be careful. I'm going now as I have something else to take care of. Sorry, but I have to leave you now."

Autumn surprisingly felt disappointed when he disappeared.

Just then, she heard her name. "Autumn!" It was Charles, coming back after paying the fees. He saw her looking puzzled, and sat down beside his wife. "Who was that man?"

Autumn shrugged. "I don't know him either." Then she narrated what happened about the children horsing around and how the stranger prevented one from bumping into Autumn.

As he watched the man's retreating figure, Charles frowned over the incident. "What about the examination?" he asked his wife. "Is the baby okay?"

Autumn rubbed her belly and heaved a sigh of relief. "Yes, it's okay." She was pleased that all the precautions she took paid off because the doctor told her their baby was healthy and coming along as expected.